Car-switch



W. MARQUA. Car SW1t0h Patented Feb. 15,1881.

(Model) lmmlilllllllll WNW N. PEI'ERs, PHOTD-LITHOGRAPHER. WASHINGTON, D C.

NITED STATES WILLIAM MARQUA, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

CAR-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 237,687, dated February 15, 1881.

Application filed January 17, 1881. (ModeL) Toall whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM MARQUA, of the city of Cincinnati, county of Hamilton, State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Mechanism for Switching or Changing Street-Oars from One Track to Another; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, such as will enable others to construct and operate the same, reference being had to the drawings accompanying and forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to that class of devices used for automatically switching street-cars through the medium of certain devices operated by the driver.

My invention has for its object the saving of time, the prevention of stoppages, and oertainty of operation.

Figure 1 shows a side elevation of my invention in section. Fig. 2 shows an end view of my invention with the roller about to engage the switch-rail. Fig. 3 shows a plan of a switch with part of my invention in place.

Similar letters refer to similar parts.

A is the switch-plate, with the switch-rail A cast in one piece with it. This plate extends from rail to rail, and combines in one piece the two frogs and switch-rail.

B is a frame journaled to the axle in such a way as to prevent lateral motion, and carries on a cross-rail which connects the two ends a roller, It, so placed as to engage the switchrail A, and so determine the course of the car.

0 0 are the axles.

D D are stops so placed as to engage suitable arms on the roller-carrying frame B, as shown in Fi 1, and are to prevent the frame B from turningcompletelyover when the roller B engages the switch-rail A.

E is a spring, the action of which is to bring the frame B to nearly a horizontal position, so that the roller cannot engage the switch-rail. This spring E is brought into play as soon as the foot is placed on the upper arm of the bell-crank lever E, which stretches the spring, and upon the foot being removed the spring contracts, thus bringing the frame B into its original. position.

F is a bell-crank lever, the upper arm of which projects through the platform at a point to be in easy reach of the driver or person in charge of the car. The lower arm is connected, by means of the link G, with the upper arm of the frame B.

H is the body of the car.

Operation: The operation of my invention is very easily understood, and is as follows: Upon the car approaching the place where it is to turn out or leave the main track, the driver or operator places his foot upon the upper arm of the bell-crank lever F, and, pressing it down, brings the roller-carrying frame B into an upright position, where it is held against the stops D. In this position the rollerR will engage the switch-rail A, and the car will be forced over onto the other track. As soon the car is fully over onto the other track the driver or operator removes his foot, when the spring E draws the frame B back into a horizontal position, and so preventing all possibility of its coming into contact with any obstruction that might be in between the tracks, so to remain until the necessity again arises for its use.

It will be observed that the frame B is swung from the axle O. This effectually obviates any difficulty that might arise from the uneven loading of the car, for the axle being always the same distance from the track, the roller B being once adjusted it will always be right, no matter how the car is loaded, and by having the frogs and switch-rail cast in one piece the adjustment of roller lt and switchrail A is rendered certain at all times.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. The device for automatically changing the direction of a street or other car, consisting of the frog-plate A, having cast upon its upper surface the two frogs and the switchrail A, substantially as shown, and for the purpose described.

2. The combination, in a device for switching or changingthe direction of street or other cars, of the plate A, having cast upon its upper face the two frogs and switch-rail A, and the frame B, journaled to the axle of a street or other car, and carrying the roller R, as and for the purpose described and set forth.

WM. MARQUA. 

